Election Commission projects need for 800 new warehouses for simultaneous polls

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India has identified a requirement for 800 additional warehouses across the country to accommodate electronic voting machines (EVMs) and other electoral equipment if simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies are implemented.

In its communication with the Law Commission and Department of Legal Affairs last March, the EC characterised warehouse construction as a “laborious process” with significant cost implications. These insights are now part of the documentation provided to members of the parliamentary joint committee examining bills related to simultaneous elections.

The EC’s assessment highlights multiple challenges in establishing these facilities. Beyond construction costs, which are to be borne by state governments, the warehouses require comprehensive security measures including regular inspections, fire alarm systems, CCTV surveillance, and permanent security personnel deployment. The Commission noted these requirements would necessitate “additional financial outlay” and present “administrative difficulties.”

Despite these challenges, the EC maintains that the infrastructure expansion is manageable, provided adequate lead time and prioritisation from state governments. “This challenge can be dealt with,” the Commission stated in its assessment.

The requirement comes against the backdrop of an ongoing warehouse construction initiative that began in July 2012, aimed at establishing dedicated facilities for storing EVMs and voter-verifiable paper audit trail machines (VVPATs) in each of India’s approximately 772 districts. As of March 2023, progress on this initiative shows varied results: 194 warehouses have been completed, 106 are under construction, while 26 projects face challenges related to land allocation and groundbreaking.